The World Veterinary Day is commemorated to honour the veterinary profession every year on the final Saturday in April. Theme for 2026 ‘Veterinarians: Guardians of Food and Health’ is the theme of the 2026 World Veterinary Day which is to be celebrated on 25th April 2026. The theme “Veterinarians: Guardians of Food and Health” highlights the systemic role of veterinary services in safeguarding food safety, food security, public health, and animal health worldwide.From farm to fork, veterinarians are at the frontline of ensuring that food of animal origin is safe, nutritious, and responsibly produced. Their work protects consumers, supports sustainable food systems, prevents zoonotic diseases, and strengthens global health security. The 2026 theme recognises that global food systems are increasingly interconnected and exposed to emerging disease threats, climate-related pressures, antimicrobial resistance, and economic volatility. In this context, veterinarians act not only as animal health professionals, but as essential actors in health security, sustainable food systems, and economic resilience/sustainability. World Veterinary Day 2026 aims to elevate public understanding and policy recognition of veterinary services as a cornerstone of sustainable and secure food systems. India celebrations In order to recognize and celebrate the important roles of Veterinarians in animal and human health and welfare, food security, food quality and safety, ecology, drugs and pharmaceuticals development, biomedical research, rural development, as educators, trainers, and policymakers, economic development through livestock production and management and in wildlife conservation, and the protection of the environment and biodiversity, safeguarding our country by preventing the threat of bio terrorism, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying in close collaboration with Veterinary Council of India organises events to celebrate World Veterinary Day- 2026. Stakeholders of Veterinary profession across the nation participate in the events. Key institutions involved in Veterinary sciences in India Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying : The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying is one of the Departments under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. The Department is responsible for matters relating to livestock production, preservation, protection & improvement of stocks, dairy development, matters relating to Delhi Milk Scheme, National Dairy Development Board, Animal Welfare Board of India and Committee for Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CCSEA). For more details, visit https://www.dahd.gov.in/ Veterinary Council of India : Veterinary Council of India (VCl) is a statutory body established under the provision of Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984. Veterinary Council of India is responsible for regulating veterinary practices as well as for maintaining uniform standards of veterinary education through Minimum Standard of Veterinary Education Regulations in all veterinary institutes across the country. To meet the shortage of trained veterinary manpower in the country, the number of recognized Veterinary Colleges has now increased to 58. For more details, visit https://vci.dahd.gov.in/ Source : Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying